Do You Know About The Tribal Life Of Andaman? - Andaman Holiday Packages

1. You may have never thought of Andaman unless you are planning to spend an exclusive honeymoon or adventurous trip there. What all people think about when it comes to , is the white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, dense green Travels in Andaman forests, sea food, and water activities. But, there is one thing that can also get you interested about this place is the tribal life of the place. These trials have been cut off from the contacts of mainland culture and developments. They are still caught up in the primitive times and live n their own distinguished world, undisturbed by the modern times. However, these tribal communities are gradually becoming extinct, and the ones left are in isolation. So, while they still live, you must try to know and understand them, because who knows when nobody else will be able to see them! The Andamans have two main tribes – Negrito and Mangoloid. The Negrito tribe has four sub-classifications including the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Sentinelese, and Onge. And, the Magoloid tribe has two sub-classifications, namely Nicobarese and Shompen. The Negrito group resides in Andaman, and the Mangoloid group resides in Nicobar. Let s explore more about these tribes. Great Andamanese In the 19th century, there were around 5000 members of the Great Andamanese tribe. But, in only a century and a half, the population came down to only 50 individuals! Thousands

2. of Great Andamanese were killed in conflicts with British settlers, as they defended their territory from invasion. In 1970, this tribe was re-settled in Strait Island, a little away from Port Blair, by the Indian government, and was provided food, shelter, and clothing by the government itself. By the 20th century, the surviving population intermarried with Burmese and Indian settlers, which is why now they have a mixed Indian, Burmese, and aboriginal culture. Their main occupation is hunting, poultry, and horticulture. Jarawa One of the most hostile tribes, the Jarawas have strictly followed their policy of no human contact. They were the most feared community of their times as they attacked with poisonous arrows. But today, with only 300-400 members left, their hostility has reduced. The main occupation of this tribe is hunting, and making arrows and metal tools. They mainly feed on forest and sea for food. The major consume includes wild boar, monitor lizard, fruits, honey, and tubers. The Andaman government has restricted entry into their areas, but with the construction of the Andaman Trunk Road that connects Baratang Island, Middle Andaman, and South Andaman, you can get a glimpse of these tribes as the road goes deep into their areas. Sentinelese Located in the Sentinel Island in North Andaman, the Sentinelese tribe is the most difficult ones to get in touch with. With a number ranging from 50 to 200, they live in isolation, and are not contacted by any outsiders or even the government, because they are very hostile towards anyone who is not of their community. This is why environmental groups have urged the authorities to leave the Sentinelese group alone, and respect the 5 km exclusion zone thrown around their area. Their main occupation includes fishing and hunting. Even today, they use the bow and arrow to hunt and fish. Onge Located in South Andaman, Onge is the most primordial tribe that reduced in number from 700 to 100 after the British invasion in 1901. Today they are mainly seen near the Dugong Creek in Little Andaman. Their main occupation is hunting, where the males go for hunting and crop plantation, while the females find roots and tubers beneath the soil. They generally eat jack fruits, roots, fish, and turtle. However, this tribe is also addicted to tobacco and alcohol consumption, which has resulted in increasing number of deaths of the tribal men. The government has been providing this tribe with pucca houses, food, clothing, and medicines. This tribe is known for its craftsmanship to make canoes and other accessories from shell and wood. Nicobarese This is one tribe of the lot that has a population of thousands, categorized into 6 different sub-tribes, each having its own culture, tradition, occupation, and habitat. However, all the Nicobarese believe in living in joint families known as Tuhets. They love celebrating life events by dancing and singing. Their main occupation is pig farming and horticulture; and their staple food is coconut, rice, fish, and Pandunus.

3. Shompen This tribe belongs to the nomad category that has no fixed place to live. They live in around 12 habitations made of bamboo and leaf thatch. This tribe is one of the most isolated hunter tribe who were the first to arrive at the Nicobar Island before the Nicobarese arrived. Shompen has never been hostile like the other tribes, but they are shy in nature and prefer staying peacefully in their area. They friendlily accept the food, shelter, and utensils gifted by the government. This tribal community hunts for pigs and fishes for their meals. While all these tribes are different from one another, one commonality is that the demography of these tribes is reducing with time. Hence, it is important to keep these tribes protected and reserved so that their legacy remains. This is why visiting these tribes is not a part of Andaman tourism. However, for everything else that you want to book and do in Andaman, you can get in touch with Andaman Holiday Packages perfect Travels in Andaman for you. to plan the For more information, browse our social networking websites: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest